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When Sarah and I decided to move to Maine, a family friend told us that Mainers eat lobster more often than they eat ground beef. While I’m still not convinced that this is entirely accurate, does anyone have time to not eat a lobster when they’re in Maine? Not I. Not here. Not now. So buckle up, we’re going on a Lobster Expedition!

Note: this list is not exhaustive, apologies to the other wonderful chefs and restaurants who prepare delicious crustaceans for the people of Kennebunk and Kennebunkport.

1. Our very first stop is David’s KPT. If you’re looking for dinner with a view, this is your place. It’s right on the water, with a lovely view of all the neighboring ships and river traffic.

They serve a lovely lobster roll with an option for DOUBLE LOBSTER, as well as David’s Lobster Dinner, which include a chowder, blackened shrimp cocktail, and a steamed Maine lobster.

2. Next up, we’re heading to Mabel’s Lobster Claw! They’ve got every kind of lobster on the menu: a Lobster roll, Lobster Scampi pasta, Lobster Salad, as well as an entire section of Every Lobster Thing. Lobster stew, baked and stuffed, steamed, and Mabel’s Famous Lobster! YEAHHHH

3. Alright lobster friends. Our third Lobster destination is Stripers at the Breakwater Inn and Spa. They have a lovely restaurant, with outdoor seating looking over the river and lawn. They serve whole steamed lobsters and lobster raviolo with oyster mushrooms and portobellos. But the star of the show is their outdoor Lobster bake on Monday evenings, complete with Lobster, Steamers, Corn on the Cob, Potatoes, and Blueberry Cobbler! You couldn’t ask for a more Maine-ish evening!

Remember; these are only a few of the amazing restaurants in the area, and if you have any questions we’d be happy to offer recommendations and make reservations for you at any time! If you need us, we’ll be out researching more restaurants. It’s a tough life.

The summer is going fast, so don’t forget to book your stay at the Inn at English Meadows! You can call us at (207) 967-5766, or check our availability online right here! We can’t wait to meet you!

Everyone needs souvenirs from a great vacation! Either to remember how awesome it was, or to apologize to the people you didn’t want to invite.. Don’t even worry. Sarah and I went scouting for the best souvenirs in the Kennebunks, so you can get such amazing presents that you will end up keeping them for yourself!

Transform your home with all the luxuries from the Inn! Featuring wire art by Alex Parisi.

The first and best place to start is the Inn, of course. They have all the luxuries from your stay available for purchase! Malin + Goetz soaps (don’t they just smell all kinds of amazing??), English Meadows coffee mugs and gorgeous hand-blown Italian drinking cups, Tea Forté tea bags and tea trays, the cute little tea pots, everything! These are the perfect things to bring home to remind you to relax and enjoy yourself, and to bring to people who don’t like trinkets!

Trying hats at the Daytrip Society

The place to go for the cutest Mainey trinkets is Definitely the Daytrip Society. They have everything you will need to impress your friends with your thoughtfulness and generosity. Also, they have great sunglasses, and a Junior store for all the babies in your life who need to be spoiled.

Just look at all these cute things. Literally everything adorable.

Their card selection is straight up KILLER. You can buy them all and send them to your inlaws like, ‘oh darn, you would love it so much here, super sorry you couldn’t come. We’ll almost certainly remember to invite you next year probably.’

Next, we went to our favourite place for KENNEBUNK merch- Saxony Imports. It’s not as adorably curated as the Daytrip Society, but they do have really soft sweatshirts, cute hats, stickers, etc: Kennebunk souvenirs are their jam. Sarah got a great hat with a leather tab at the back, and will now be representing KPT in all of her paparazzi shots from now on.

Size extra cute, thank you.

After all of that shopping, it is definitely time to walk across the green bridge into Kennebunk to relax with a glass of something at Ports of Italy. You have earned it for SURE. Ask Mike the bartender for book recommendations- he’ll hook you right up!

Can you even stand how pretty this is?

That was so easy! What a success. Now you can go home with all of your beautiful trinkets and remember your favourite vacation!

Our Loot. Greetings from Maine! Not shown: Malin + Goetz soaps- those are already right by the sink!!

Thanks for coming shopping with us, we hope to see you around the port this summer! We’re so excited to show you all of our favourite places around town, pretty soon you’ll be able to tour the town like a local! Don’t forget to book your room, cause we can’t wait to have you stay with us!

What’s summer like in Maine? In one word: spectacular! From the picturesque coastline to pristine parks, Maine offers countless opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. But if indoor fun is on your agenda, you’re in luck. You can spend time savoring delicious meals at some of the state’s award-winning restaurants or touring historic lighthouses.

Here are 6 reasons to make your way to Maine this summer:

1. Maine’s natural beauty is breathtaking. If you’re up for a day trip while staying at the inn, Acadia National Park is located 3 hours away in Bar Harbor. It’s 47,000 total acres are home to some 40 different species of wildlife, 120 miles of hiking trails, 27 miles of biking trails, and two beaches. Only 1.5 hours away, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay offers trails, vernal ponds and forest over 248 acres. Want to stay local? The Rachel Carson National Wildlife Rescue is only minutes from the inn and stretches along 50 miles of coastline.

2. The lighthouses will still catch your eye. There’s a reason why Maine is sometimes called ‘The Lighthouse State’. There are 65 lighthouses dotting the state’s vast coastline, and the most prominent can be viewed while driving along Route 1. One of the closest to the inn is Goat Island Light, originally built in 1892 and rebuilt in 1859, located right up the road at the entrance of Cape Porpoise Harbor.

3. You can soak in Maine and its sunsets on the sea. Riding the waves along the rocky coastline on a windjammer or schooner is an adventurous and scenic way to see the state’s beauty. You can take a day tour or book a week-long adventure and end each day with a sunset cruise.

4. Summer brings fun and festivals. From June 1st – 8th, the Kennebunkport Festival brings together delicious foods, wines, and art, with the backdrop of some of the area’s most historic homes. If you’re a fan of the blues, the North Atlantic Blues Festival is being held from July 12th – 13th at the Public Landing in Rockland (about 2 hours from the inn). And, the annual Maine Lobster Festival featuring 20,000 pounds of the tasty crustacean is also being held in Rockland from July 30th – August 3rd at Harbor Park.

5. The food is fabulous. Everyone knows Maine for its lobsters, of course. You can stop by any number of lobster shacks, including The Clam Shack overlooking the Kennebunk River. But that’s not all. Portland, only 30 minutes from the inn, has become one of the best small foodie towns in the country thanks to a bevy of top-tier, nationally recognized restaurants such as Hugo’s and Fore Street. Foodie tours are very popular in the region (buying tickets in advance is highly recommended). Stay close to the inn and set out on the Kennebunkport Culinary Walking Tour for a taste of what the area is serving up.

6. Come visit us at the inn! We love welcoming our guests and providing each one a bit of R&R. From the daily, gourmet breakfasts cooked up by Liz, to the modern, luxurious touches of the guest rooms, we strive to give our guests a truly unforgettable experience. Our specials and packages are created with our guests’ happiness in mind.

Spring is an interesting time in Maine. It’s the season where you can still enjoy downhill skiing while watching the early spring bulbs begin to peak through the soil. With the anticipation of the summer season, restaurants and a variety of warm weather attractions begin to open offering a sneak peak at what’s to come.

CULINARY
Celebrate Maine’s culinary staple cuisine at the annual Gulf of Maine Seafood Celebration taking place in April. Local chefs and the Culinary Partners of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute will be providing an array of ocean delicacies for your tasting pleasure. The Inn at English Meadows has also partnered with Epitourean.com for an out of this world culinary package for food enthusiasts. The special includes a five-star dining experience at the premier White Barn Inn Restaurant and a hands-on cooking class with Chef Ross, where you will learn the intricacies of creating New England culinary masterpieces.

OUTDOORS
Combine your love of skiing and reggae for a spring jam at the Sugarloaf ski resort. Now in its 26th year, the annual Bud Light sponsored event, brings together music lovers and skiers for a weekend of fun on the slopes.

Our beautiful lakes, rivers and ocean can be enjoyed in a variety of water activities that the entire family will love. Coastal Maine Kayak offers fabulous guided kayaking tours to nearby Cape Porpise Lighthouse, the Kennebunk River, Mousam River and Casco Bay. Enjoy the sites of coastal Maine landmarks including numerous historic buildings, open salt marshes and rich woodlands. Take a ride on the Casco Bay Ferry or set sail on a Portland Schooner for a scenic view of the Casco Bay Islands. Explore the marine life by chartering a fishing boat or take a whale watching tour off Maine’s beautiful coast. For a more thrilling outdoor excursion, take a day trip to West Forks, ME and enjoy a whitewater rafting adventures on the Kennebec River.

Beat the crowds and visit Kennebunkport this spring for a sea-side getaway full of adventure.

Are you looking for ways to clear your mind? Body tense from stress? Spirit uneasy with worry? Peace and happiness is just a click away here at English Meadows in Kennebunkport. Our charming village offers several ways to soothe your mind, body and spirit. Take a holistic getaway and work on getting back your inner peace during a weekend stay at the Inn at English Meadows.

Revitalize your body at the White Barn Inn Spa for a day of treatments, decadent hors d’oeuvres, massages and complimentary product samples at the March 8thSpa Wellness Event, exclusive only to Inn at English Meadows guests. Known for its unique services, this spa boasts bathrooms with rain showers and treatment rooms with soaker tubs. For a personal touch, you’ll be assigned a concierge to help tailor your pampering session. The special treatment does not have to end at the Spa Wellness Event; guests also receive a 15% discount on any spa treatment at The White Barn Spa throughout the year.

Let the worries of the world roll off your shoulders during a Kripalu yoga session at the Village Yoga of the Kennebunks. This session offers a holistic practice of yoga that is not just reduced to physical activity, but helps you to understand the unity of the body and mind. You’ll leave this class with a feeling of control over your life.

Lastly, free your spirit during a Reiki treatment at Holistically Yours. Reiki is a hands-on healing practice and focuses on the energy flow through the body to enhance your health and well-being. This is the perfect way to release the bad energy you may have pent up inside. You’ll feel like a new person after a treatment with Jayleen Hayden.

A holistic experience is not complete without rest. Your body will enjoy a sweet slumber on our Vera Wang hyper allergenic mattresses with down duvets and pillows. The warmth from your room’s gas fireplace will create a cozy atmosphere to relax in. Feed your soul with our gourmet breakfasts that will keep you energized for a weekend of self-reflection and pampering.

So pack your bags and escape the madness for a getaway filled with tranquility.

If someone mentions Mr. & Mrs. Smith, you may think of the 2005 movie starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie or perhaps your neighbors down the street, but savvy travelers know that Mr. & Mrs. Smith signifies a gateway to premier vacation destinations throughout the world. The Mr. & Mrs. Smith website takes you on a tour of the world’s most stylish and unique hotels, from New York to New Zealand, London to Los Angeles and everywhere in between, including Kennebunk Maine. The Inn at English Meadows is proud to announce that we are now part of the Mr. & Mrs. Smith collection.

Winner of Condé Nast Traveler’s 2012 “Favorite Travel Website” award, Mr. & Mrs. Smith hand-picks the best boutique hotels, luxury hotels and stylish vacation rentals to ensure you find the perfect spot for your getaway. Every boutique hotel in the Mr. & Mrs. Smith collection has been visited by the Smith team before being reviewed anonymously (and thoroughly) by a discriminating, travel-seasoned couple, who provide their own evocative first-person tale. Travelers can trust that at each Smith destination, vetted reviewers have personally tested the beds, surveyed the views and sampled the cuisine to make sure that each property really is best in class.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith is much more than just another travel website. Thanks to their exhaustive research, anonymous hotel reviews, and their dedicated 24-hour Travel Team that is just a phone call away, your special stay – whether romantic, family or anything else – is in safe hands. They guarantee the best room rates available and, because they give you a free BlackSmith membership when you first book with them, you’ll get money back and added extras, too.

You might wonder why they’re called Mr & Mrs Smith . . . In their own words: “Well, we’ve been around a lot longer than Brad and Angelina, though we have to admit we like their style. Really, it’s because we’re all about romantic escapes with your other half; a wink to couples everywhere, who might fancy checking into a fabulous hotel under this classic pseudonym used by everyone from spies to celebrities.”

So grab your other half and get the inside track on the most unique and stylish travel destinations out there, including The Inn at English Meadows. No secret spy identity necessary.

Portland CBS television station WGME 13’s Road Trippin’ show recently featured The Inn at English Meadows. Road Trippin’ highlights the best that northern New England has to offer in places to stay, places to eat, and things to do and see. Host Dave Eid visited Kennebunk and Kennebunkport to interview Liz and showcase the lovely accommodations and deliciously creative breakfasts found at The Inn at English Meadows. Watch the video on WGME 13’s Vimeo channel.

We are excited to unveil our newest room – the Serenity Suite. Over the winter we added an addition to the Inn to house a new apartment for us and simultaneously renovated the previous living space into a lovely suite. The Serenity Suite is unique because it is the only suite in the Inn with two rooms and two bathrooms. The bedroom features a King size bed dressed in luxurious FRETTE sheets, a cozy gas fireplace and a bathroom with a double sink vanity and an over-sized shower.

The sitting room has a queen size pull out sofa and a second bathroom with a radiant heated floor and an indulgent soaking tub. Other amenities include: flat screen TVs in both rooms, a refrigerator stocked with soft drinks and bottled water, and a Nespresso machine. We have carried our signature chic, modern style through the furnishings and decorations, pairing clean lines with finishes and fabrics that are delightfully soft and comfortable. The Serenity Suite is located on the second floor of the main house and has a private entrance, promising a peaceful oasis for a romantic getaway. We invite you to come seek serenity on the beautiful coast of Maine.

The Martin Luther King memorial in Washington, DC celebrates a man of conscience; the freedom movement of which he was a beacon; and his message of freedom, equality, justice and love. Liz and I were very moved and inspired by our visit to the memorial last year. In honor of the upcoming Martin Luther King Day holiday we should all remember that freedom and liberty are priceless gifts.

Martin Luther King Day Special

Celebrate Martin Luther King Day weekend with a relaxing getaway in our luxurious and cozy inn. Stay with us January 18th and 19th and receive the 20th for free! Escape the winter doldrums. Visit our quaint waterfront village. Slip off to snowshoe, cross country ski, or ice skate. Walk the dramatic shoreline. Attend a wine tasting on January 18th at Bel Cibo da Cherie. Or maybe just snuggle into one of our plush robes and read by your in-room fireplace. Maine is spectacular any time of the year no matter where your interests lie. Take advantage of our three nights for the price of two offer over Martin Luther King Day weekend by calling us today!

Maine is a true winter playground, offering myriad ways to get out and explore the beautiful landscape, but also packs plenty of indoor ways to enjoy the season. The Inn at English Meadows is the perfect place to use as a base for your winter adventures, whether they involve sliding through wooded glades on cross-country skis or learning new cooking techniques in a cooking class. Afterwards, return to the Inn to relax by the fire with a mug of hot cocoa or a glass of wine. We have compiled a sampling of some of the many ways to enjoy Maine in the winter below:

Cross Country Skiing – In southern Maine you can cross-country ski alongside the ocean, across golf courses and through scented pine forests. Check out the trails at Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farm or the lovely Bridal Path. L.L. Bean Outdoor Discovery Schools offer inexpensive “Walk-On Adventures” in cross-country skiing and snowshoeing right from their retail store in Freeport. Some other resources for cross-country skiing include:

Five Fields Farm – Bridgton, (207) 647-2425, www.fivefieldsski.com – This 70-acre orchard offers 27 kilometers of trails for novice, intermediate and advanced skiers and snowshoers. Of special note is the unlimited backcountry terrain to the top of scenic Baldpate Mountain and the surrounding 450-acre land preserve. Other amenities include a warming house and rentals.

Ice Skating – Close by, the Park at Crow Hill in Kennebunkport offers a skating pond and in Kennebunk center there is the newly opened Waterhouse Center skating pavilion. West Brook Ice Rink in Biddeford is also a popular outdoor skating destination. When the conditions are right, the pond in the middle of the beautiful 52-acre Deering Oaks Park in Portland is considered by many to be one of the best ice skating spots in Maine. City crews make a special effort to keep the ice cleared and its surface well groomed for skating. Up for a bigger challenge? The ice goes on for miles at Sebago Lake and other lakes of the nearby Lakes Region.

Snowmobiling – Northeast Snowmobile Rentals, with locations in Gorham and Fryeburg can set you up with everything you need for an adrenaline-filled adventure over miles snow-covered trails and open fields. (800) 458-1838 or www.northeastsnowmobile.com.

Bowling – The classic indoor sport is a favorite of young and old alike! Vacationland in Saco is a quick drive away, offering candlepin lanes and a billiard room. At Bayside Bowl in Portland’s revitalized Bayside neighborhood, you can bowl in an intimate, upscale alley and enjoy excellent food served right at the lanes.

Catch a game – The Portland Pirates tear up the ice at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland – look for their home games all winter long as well as those of Maine’s D-league basketball team, The Maine Red Claws.

Relax in a spa – What better way to unwind in winter than by pampering yourself at a day spa. Treat yourself to massage, a facial and aromatherapy; it’s the perfect antidote to the mid-winter blahs. Cottage Breeze Day Spa is right around the corner and numerous other spas are mere minutes away.

Take in a cooking class – Schedule a personal cooking class at nearby 50 Local, an acclaimed restaurant in Kennebunk. Alternatively, at Stonewall Kitchen’s company headquarters in York, classes are held almost daily on such savory topics as bread making, holiday menus, ethnic specialties and seafood delights. 877.899.8363 or www.stonewallkitchen.com. Wine lovers can often find a tasting at Down East Wine Imports in Lower Village Kennebunk or at Browne Trading Company or LeRoux Kitchen in Portland’s Old Port.